CHAPTER THREE

THE THIRD STEP OF GOD’S SALVATION IN LIFE-CONFORMATION

Scripture Reading: Rom. 8:29; Phil. 3:10; 1 John 3:2

OUTLINE

1. The definition of conformation:
   1. Conformation being the effect of transformation in life-2 Cor. 3:18.
   2. With the firstborn Son of God, the God-man who joins God to man, as the mold-Rom. 8:29.
2. The purpose of God’s salvation in life:
   1. To conform the believers to the image of the firstborn Son of God-Rom. 8:29.
      1. To be conformed to the image of the firstborn Son of God being to be conformed to the image of the God-man, who is the union of the processed Triune God with the transformed tripartite man:
         1. To be conformed to the glorious image of God as the Word who became flesh.
         2. To be conformed to the lowly image of the man in whom God is embodied-Phil. 2:7-8.
         3. To live the life of the God-man in which the divine attributes are expressed in human virtues.
      2. To live a life of denying our natural life under the crucifixion of Christ by being conformed to His death-Phil. 3:10c.
      3. To live out the reality of the spiritual life of God by the power of Christ’s resurrection-Phil. 3:10a.
      4. To take the life-giving Spirit, the pneumatic Christ, as our life and person-1 Cor. 15:45b; Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:16, 25.
   2. To be led into glorification in the divine glory by arriving at maturity of life through transformation in life-Eph. 4:13b; Col. 1:28; Rom. 8:30; Heb. 2:10a.
3. The consummation of God’s salvation in life:
   1. The believers being absolutely like God in God’s righteousness and holiness in the consummation of their maturity in life-1 John 3:2; Eph. 4:24.
   2. The New Jerusalem, in which the believers consummate, and God, who sits on the throne in eternity, appearing in the divine glory in full resemblance to one another, both being like jasper-Rev. 4:3a; 21:11, 18a, 19b.